Multiple pitot and piezometer tube for measuring the flow of water through closed conduits



. 1 645,449 11 1927' w. PROEBSTEL D. MULTIPLE PITOT AND PIEZOMETER TUBE FOR MEASURING THE FLOW 02 WATER THROUGH CLOSED CONDUITS Filed May 25, 1925 2 Shets-Sheet. 1

Oct. 11, 1927. 1,645,449 v D. W. PROEBSTEL MULTIPLE PITOT AND PIEZOMETER TUBE FOR MEASURING THEFLOW OF WATER THROUGHCLOSED CONDUITS' 7 Filed May 25, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 hwanfor ,De/berf W Pwaebafe/ Patented Oct. 11, 1927.

PATENT oF FICE.

DELBERT W. PROEBSTEL, 0F PORTLAND, OREGON.

MULTIPLE PITOT AND PIEZOMETER TUBE FOR MEASURING THEAFLOW OF WATER THROUGH CLOSED CONDUITS.

Application filed May 25, 1925. Serial No. 32,801.

My invention relates to an improved means of accurately determining the quan tity of flow of water through closed conduits.

The development of central station hydroelectric plants of great magnitude and of 1 111- mense proportions has created the necess ty for the accurate determining of the quantity of water flowing past a given point in the conduit.

In the developments where these conduits are of large diameters, the determination of the flow through the conduit, may only be accomplished, by taking representative readings over a number of points in the conduit at one time.-

Heretofore, only representative readings have been made, and when so made, have been made at different intervals, wherein different conditions may be existent within the conduit, or where currents or eddies may change the velocity of the stream flow through the conduit under the same operating conditions in dilferent parts of the area, of the conduit, at the same time.

With my improvement I have made possible the taking of instantaneous readings over a conduit area, and have devised a means through the utilization of the camera,

for recording these instantaneous readings for future determinations of the existent condition over the different areas within the conduit, at the time made. From the permanent record made through the use of the camera in recording the condition existent within the stream flow, at the time the reading was made, the quantity flow may be determined.

In my invention, I utilize many fixed Pitot nozzles placed within the area of the closed conduit, maintaining the same in fixed position upon a cross frame, placed normal to the longitudinal axis of the conduit; they areso placed that each one is at the center of an equal segment area of concentric rings, each segment, representing a divisional unit, such as one-fourth of one of the concentric bands or rings. These Pitot nozzles and the piezometer tubes are connected to a glass tube manometer by means of small tubes. The glass tubes terminate in a manifold. at the top ofthe same, which, is arranged so that a compressiblefiuid may be used, as air, to force the water column in the tubes down to where they can be read ona gauge board. I then place behind the manometer tube, a chart that I have carefully prepared in advance, and divided into uniform measuremcnts, as tenths, and hundredths of a foot. This chart is adjusted, so that the lines are accurately horizontal. This is quite im portant,'inasmuch as the velocity heads, in feet, may be recorded and read directly from the chart. A. greater visibility may be obtained by the placing, in the tubes and in vthe manifold, of a fluid containing color pigments, this may be applied within the compressible fluid or within the water itself.

After the location of the device has been fixed and the chart placed'behind the tubes, compressed air is then applied within the manifold, to force the pressure lines down to where a. reading may be made, indicative of the pressures caused by the flow of water in the conduit. A camera having been previously set in position, and directly in front of the device for photographing the tubes and chart, a photograph may be then made to secure a permanent record of the results, indicated on each water glass, caused by thevelocity head within the conduit. This enables the operator to obtain an instantaneous reading of the pressure head, and the combined pressure, and velocity heads of an entire cross sectional area of the conduit, wherein the actual reading shown, is indica-.

tive of the heads at the center of the area segments. The velocity head, will .be the difference between the reading of the Pitot tube and the average of the readings of the piezometer tubes.

The tabulation and the curve which follow indicate all the work that is necessaryto determine the flow of water in C. F. S. The velocity V in feet per second is calculated from the formula V (2gh) where h is the tures of construction and combination of parts, the essentialielements of which are set forth .in theappended. claims and to. a preferred form of'embodiment O WlllClL1$ hereinafter shown with reference to the drawings which accompany-and; form a part of this specification.

r In; the drawings Fig. 1 113.3 crosscsectional view of a large wnfclili't,illustrating. my device in place upon and iilthe conduitireadyfon making the de-. terminations of. a representative flow over the" entire .area.

Fig, 2 is a side. elevation, taken on. line 22,0f. Fig. 1, looking. in. the direction indicated.

*iig. 3111s] aifragmentary side. elevation of theaupper portion lofthe. device, shown in position; uponv the. conduit, and the. location of at-hfl gaugeboard. placed behind. the. same.

Fig. 4i;,is iaspartial, sectional, side eleva tion,.ofga.,-Piitot tube of the type I have found that 5 gives thebest results, in, position upon the supporting bar forthe. same.

Fig. 5 is.an. end View of the frainesupport for thefP itot tubes partially in: sectionand shows thePitot. tube in positions Fig. 6;is. a fragmentaryfront view of the chant made. to -.ill,ustrate one. form. of line graduation placedpthereupon.

Like,- refenence characters. refer tov like partsthroughout the several views 'lzis the-pipe. conduit, which. is made. of

. steel or'woodi or. otheusuitable. material, de-

pending. upon the. location. -.of the .same, the Sl-ZQUELIICl thQhEQCl' TlI'IClGlT WhlChl the same is being. used, andn2 are. the frame. supports.

here shown as four. in..nu1nber., which are radially. amounted within the conduit 1. Sealedpipes 3zandz4e are placed upon the conduit, through which the pipes 14 are con.

ductedwintothe interiorof the conduit, the.

outer iendsof which are connectedup. as will. beteXplainedlater.. Pzitot. tubes 5, are mount: ethnpon theradial supports Q parallel to the. axis .of. the. conduit, their. spacingand loca.- tion depending .upon the,..shape. and. .diaine teriof thecond'uit itself. Each of the Pitot tubes 5 is'conn-ected to the inneiz'end of one of the pipes 14, as shown in Fig. 2; Picaometer tubes 16,. are. mounted. t'liroughathe conduitandhave suitable. shut-off cocks 7, which are. located. BX'CGllOllYaOfthe. wall of the ;conduit,. and. which are. to prevent the passage ofwwater therethrough, during the preparation of the equipment and during the placement of the remainder of the equipment. Pipes 8, are then connected therefrom to glass tubes located upon the gauge.

On the exterior of the conduit 1, I have mounted the supporting frame 16, which has the chart 18 and support board 17 mounted thereon. Adjacent thelupper edge. of the chart board is disposed the manifold 9, the axis of which is at a right angle to the vertic Onthe nidersideof the manifold 9 are formed a series of'openings 10, the purpose of w ich wil a pe r t r. A one. i -sle edge.0f.tl ,e,,ch'art 18 board are mounteda series of pet cocks 15, there being the same nun her ofpetcoclgs as there are openings 10 in the manifold 9, the pet cocks are arranged ver ically athec art heard; z h the upp r peningf; e ch. ism-sen d PPQT. i e a o r snenrline peni g i e e m n-is fold 9. Between the upper openings ofgthe pet cocks-.15 and the remawot-the mas f l re spcsed; e ie'lass t bes. 2. h. c 0 m me s oiw iii l aw be we n. th manifold nd" e p t ocks erprene l quid tight. pac i gma ntai ed et een. h glass tubes and the openings in the,.1nani-, fold, nd he pet. c cka inmeaa fthe packing glands .11 and. 13., 'Winen the glass tubes are SQJIIQLllltQCl-tOiEl-lfl chapt board they are arrang d n. a plan Par lel; to h plane. fit l larg st urfa etthec oarcl. The, tubes 12 are spaced apart from nech a gt board to permit the. cl art lfifi. to be secured to he. board be we n.- it-and t e ehe -l The, outer ends of the pipes on, tubes lq are each. c nne ted e el i er n f a pe cock 15. which will penniit the flow of a fluid. from Pitottube. 5 through the pipe 1a, the g1 ss ube. 12:to the m nifq d:

Moun ed h ugh he w l. f; bhe ideit Pare p ezometcr tub s ,whic i av 11. 1.1 ed onltheir outer endsshut offcoclns i. Each of I the. shut; off; cocks -7' of the piezometer tubes 6, is connected: by-n eans ofpipes or tubes-Sic a pet c ck;1 15 to per nit the fi ow a fluidi heretliroug a Q or he manifold -9.:

Anan lv 9 isdianosed at one n lof; he. manifold I PQlm tnA und z; pr sure to be fonced into the manifol d. The. air; may be, forced in either bya power; driven con Pre er an or inary hand;:pump-.. The compressed air ;is llltliQdllCQdpfQl':t he purpose of lowering the water column in; each of, the. glass, tubes so that; the height 'of; each water column nay be noted in ueference to the Jun markings; on, the. chart 18. In the event ,th

the purpose of introducing a colored liquid which may top or rest upon the water column in each of the glass tubes, the purpose of which is to permit greater ease in reading the height of the water in regard to the chart. Or, again, dry or other coloring matter may be introduced to the. water columns for the purpose of making the same show out more distinctly against the chart in the background.

l/Vhile the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form of embodiment herein shown and described, as it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow:

1. A multiple Pitot and piezometer tube for measuring the flow of water through closed conduits, comprising a frame work extending across the conduit and at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the conduit, a plurality of Pitot tube nozzles secured in said frame work, said Pitot tubes having their axes parallel to the axis of the conduit; transparent tubes paralle lly disposed and vertically mounted exteriorly of said conduit; tubes connecting the Pitot tubes with the lower ends of said parallelly arranged transparent tubes; and a manifold disposed on and communicating with the free end of the said transparent tubes and adapted to the admission of a compressible fluid therein for depressing the liquid in said tubes to normal working position.

2. A multiple Pitot and piezometer tube for measuring the flow of water. through closed conduits, comprising a radial frame mounted within a conduit; Pitot tubes mounted Within said frame and having the axes of their nozzles disposed parallel to the axis of the conduit; a plurality of transparent tubes vertically disposed exteriorly of the conduit; pipes connecting the Pitot tubes with the lower ends of the transparent-tubes; a chart support associated with said transparent tubes; and a cylindrical member mounted upon and communicating with the upper ends of said transparent tubes, and adapted to the admission of a compressible fluid therein for depressing the liquid in said tubes to normal working position.

A multiple Pitot and piezometer tube for measuring the flow of water through closed conduits, comprising a cross frame mounted in a fixed position within a conduit; Pitot tube nozzles, placed in equal segment areas in the cross frame and having their axes parallel the axis of the conduit; transparent tubes arranged in vertical series and lying in one plane mounted exteriorly of the conduit; a manifold disposed upon the free ends of the transparent tubes and through the conduit adapted to the admission of a compressible fluid therein for depressing a liquid admitted to said tubes through their lower ends to normal Working position; and pipes connecting said Pitot tubes with the lower ends of said transparent tubes.

4. A multiple Pitot and piezometer tube formeasuring the flow of water through closed conduits, comprising Pitot tube nozzles placed in representative areas Within a conduit and having their axes parallel the axis of the conduit; piezometer tubes passed wall in approximately the same cross section; transparent tubes vertically mounted upon the exterior of the conduit; a cushion head mounted at the upper ends of said transparent tubes and communicating therewith; means connecting the individual Pitot and piezometer tubes to the lower ends of the individual transparent tubes; means provided for the introduction under pressure of a compressible fluid into the cushion head for depressing the liquid in said tubes to normal working position; and a graduated chart positioned behind said transparent tubes.

5. A multiple Pitot and piezometer tube for measuring the flow of water through closed conduits, comprising a frame support disposed within a conduit, a plurality of Pitot tubes disposed within said frame support and having their axes parallel with the axis of the conduit, a plurality of glass tubes vertically disposed exterior of the conduit, a manifold mounted on the upper end of said tubes, a pet cock secured to the lOWer end of each of said tubes, means on said manifold to admit a compressible fluid under pressure therein for depressing the liquid in said tubes to a normal working position, and pipes connecting individual Pitot tubes with the pet cock of the individual glass tubes.

6. A multiple Pitot and piezometer tube for measuring the closed conduits, comprising a frame support disposed within a conduit, a plurality of Pitot tubes disposed within said frame support and having their axes parallel with the axis of the conduit, a plurality ofglass tubes vertically disposed exterior of the con.- duit, a manifold mounted on the upper. end of said tubes, a pet cock secured to the lower end of each of said tubes, means on said manifold to admit a compressible fluid under pressure therein for depressing the liquid in said tubes to a normal working position, piezometer tubes disposed about said conduit, and pipes connecting the individual Pitot tubes and piezometer tubes with the pet cock of the individual glass tubes. I

7. A multiple Pitot and piezometer tube for measuring the flow of water through closed conduits, comprising a frame support mounted within a conduit, a plurality of Pitot tubes mounted within said frame flow of water through asuppsrt and having: theimaxes parallel with thenxis on: the conduit, wsupportingframe mounteellexterior of said conduit; a plurality ofx-glas :tubes vertically land; panallelly fold on the uppelt el'lClS wisa-icl tubesymeans -0nsmel m'mnfold for-admlttlng acolnpressiblefinul -nncler pressln'ethermn for depressanounted Ron said supporting.fxrame; aunanb ingthewliquicl in said tubes to "a; normal 1 workingqaosition, a pet cock secured to the lower enclof "each of said 3 tubes, piezorneter tubes disposed-through the wall of said conduit, l and pipes comlectingl individual Pitot wtubesand piezometer tubes witli the petcock oftlira individual glass tubes.

-. K=.DELBERT MPROEBSTEL. 

